National Public Health Week

Healthiest Nation 2030: Changing Our Future Together

National Public Health Week celebrates, recognizes, and honors the contributions of America's public health workers.

National Public Health Week, April 2-8, draws attention to our country’s need to improve its health ranking. The United States is currently ranked 34th globally in life expectancy (American Public Health Institute). The goal for 2018 is making the U.S. the healthiest nation in one generation by 2030.

To ensure everyone has an opportunity to be healthy, Bloomington Public Health uses a health equity approach. Through community partnerships, the Public Health Division strives to promote, protect and improve the health of our community.

Public Health Division outcomes:

To promote

The Division works with community partners to create settings in our surroundings and homes that support lifelong health by reducing risks for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. For young families and seniors, The Division provides assistance that is important to special health needs.

1,113 Richfield High School students benefit from a school cafeteria designed to support healthy eating (SNAP Ed grant).

Provided technical assistance for all three cities' Comprehensive Plan updates to provide a healthier environment through city design, services, and programs.

104 Latino childcare providers met for monthly trainings to improve healthy eating, physical activity, and school readiness for over 400 children in their care.

To protect

The Division seeks to assure a high level of protection from health threats, including communicable diseases, natural and intentional disasters and preventable injuries. Protection also comes from assuring individuals and families have a way to get health care when needed.

Performed 26 fall risk screenings at multi-unit facilities for seniors to protect them from falls due to environmental and personal risks.

111 children and parents enrolled in Healthy Families American evidence-based home visiting program demonstrated protective factors that help them become productive, healthy community members.

26 multi-unit housing properties in Richfield and Bloomington went smoke free, protecting tenants living in 2,559 units from dangers of tobacco smoke.

36,179 residents are protected by stronger tobacco control policies that Richfield passed in November 2015.

To improve

The Division uses proven practices to raise the level of health in our community.

Improved breastfeeding for one year by 34 percent among women on the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program.

Specialty trained public health nurses provided 932 Healthy Families America home visit to 52 high-risk family participants. The visiting program improves protective factors that help family members become productive, healthy community members.